Not a Volkswagen, not a Porsche. Quick, not fast. Well designed, not beautiful. The Porsche 914 is a stew of contradictions, but it was solidly successful, notching sales of 119,000 over the production run from 1969 through 1976. Here on craigslist is a well-kept 1975 914 equipped with the 1.8-liter engine; the asking price is $15,000 firm. This spiffy example is located in Portland, Oregon, with an owner who has enjoyed it for six years. Maintenance records are available, and according to the listing, the seller has attended to the car’s every need. Thanks for the tip, Curvette!
By the mid 1960s, Porsche and Volkswagen each had incentives to create a new sports car. Porsche wanted to replace the 912, and VW was done with the Karmann Ghia. A prototype was ready in 1968; a joint venture formed a marketing company to sell the car. The first 914-4s were sold with a 1.7-liter flat four-cylinder installed just behind the cabin atop a five-speed transaxle. By 1975, displacement of the base engine rose to 1.8 liters, though a 2.0-liter was also available. Cars with the 1.8 attained 60 mph in a bit under 12 seconds. All the four-cylinder engines were fuel-injected. This car has a rebuilt transaxle, an electronic distributor, and new fuel lines. The Bosch injectors have been cleaned. The underside is nearly as clean as the topside; this owner clearly dotes on his car.
If you’ve never driven a 914, the first thing that will impress you is the broad cabin. With no transmission tunnel, there’s a lot of space in here. The seats don’t look like much, but they’re very comfortable. Coco mats improve the appearance here – but be aware: that material is thick and can interfere with the motion of the pedals if not fitted just right. Those cup holders are an aftermarket item. The seller notes that “everything works!” No word about rust, but boy, the rear trunk is clean, and photos in the listing show the front is just as nice.
The targa top is a worthy compromise between a fixed roof and a convertible; it stows neatly in the rear trunk. By 1975, the 914 had been caught in the 5 mph bumper regulatory net. Porsche solved the problem by installing these large rubber protrusions onto the otherwise nimble sports car; many owners “backdate” to the slender chrome versions available from 1969 to 1972. Driving a 914 provides a lot of bang for the buck, once you become accustomed to what can be a reluctant shifting mechanism (think “coax”, don’t force). I can understand this seller’s “firm” asking price; given what you might pay for others on the market, $15k is fair.
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